Best Value Boring Car

gimli on 13/01/2018 - 20:15

Hello Guys,

My trusty Toyota Camry has got to about 150km and 12 years.

Going back 10-20 years ago Japanese cars were thought to offer reliability and value. Toyota probably had best value in terms of price and service cost etc.

I feel the Korean cars are probably just as good now. (Correct me if I am wrong). The other thing is technology like reverse sensors, bluetooth and phone connectivity have become more essential for myself and many others.

So my question is what car offers technology and reliability at the best price? (I've made a poll for people to suggest options)

Thanks
Gimli

Poll Options

Automotive

Comments

  • gimli on 13/01/2018 - 20:15
    +6
    Suggested Toyota Camry

    I shall start the poll by suggesting we should stick to the Camry.

    • resisting the urge on 14/01/2018 - 03:51

      Is the new Corolla not an i30?

      They seem really boring to me as well. I can't stand this kind of accountants' engineering mixed with lowest common donminator design. Everything is either too cheap, or overdone to look glitzy. Or put in the wrong place. Boring is not the word, when feel is lost, function compromised just enough to be permanently annoying and it lacks any kind of lasting style, what's left? I'd be a whole lot more than bored.

  • pantsparty on 13/01/2018 - 20:59
    +3
    Suggested Toyota Corolla

    What size car do you want? If you are happy with smaller than a corolla is cheaper and still a very reliable car.

  • 2jzzzz on 13/01/2018 - 21:05

    Yaris 5 door hatch, circa 2012 2013

  • iforgotmysocks on 13/01/2018 - 21:48
    +1

    A Steam Locomotive. Coal's cheap, man.

  • Diji1 on 13/01/2018 - 21:53
    +2

    A Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaag.

    • poboy on 14/01/2018 - 09:37
      +5

      Mechanics will normally start charging Jag owners for parking after their first month.

  • John Kimble on 13/01/2018 - 22:19
    +5

    Merc A200 AMG

  • Marcsie on 13/01/2018 - 22:29
    +1

    What a feeling ! Toyota :)

    • poboy on 14/01/2018 - 09:38

      Harvey Weinstein's preferred brand.

  • thetrain on 13/01/2018 - 23:15

    Buying new or used?

  • [Deactivated] on 13/01/2018 - 23:25

    Kia cerato, good looking car.

    www.kia.com/au/cars/cerato-sedan.html

    Add to poll, thx

    • TheOneWhoKnocks on 13/01/2018 - 23:39
      +1

      Not boring compared to a Camry.

      • spackbace on 14/01/2018 - 01:12
        +1

        2018 Camry

        Still boring?

        • WTF on 14/01/2018 - 01:14

          Its a camry - drive a bathtub and you know the feeling.

        • spackbace on 14/01/2018 - 01:18

          @WTF:

          I sell them, I have also sold Holden/Suzuki and seen countless used cars. Have driven s/c V8s, Evos, STis etc so I'd say my yardstick is pretty decent.

          New Camry has been turning heads and is pretty feature packed. New V6 model (with the Kluger V6 & 8-speed) should be interesting. Have driven the 4cyl demo we have and torque steer is practically non-existent (despite my attempts 😂)

          So blah, it's not a bad thing to be in now, and doesn't really have an equal in the mid-size market

          Oh and it gets called a fridge on wheels not a bathtub, get it right 😉

        • resisting the urge on 14/01/2018 - 03:42
          +1

          @Spackbace: yea, bathtubs are Subarus IIRC. Mitsus are dustbins and, the list goes on. It's about time Camry got a decent driveline, one shouldn't have to buy a hybrid to get one that can accelerate!

  • WTF on 13/01/2018 - 23:27

    Camry hands down. Nothing comes close.

    • WatchNerd on 13/01/2018 - 23:35
      +3

      If the Op wants boring, then you are correct.

      • WTF on 13/01/2018 - 23:36
        +2

        He did ask for the best value boring car.

  • Wystri Warrick on 14/01/2018 - 00:43

    Need a option for eneloop's and bikies.

    I'm suggestion eneloop's because they are the Ozbargain currency and are revered and worshipped by all Ozbargainer's.

  • Yttrium on 14/01/2018 - 08:17

    New or used ?

  • MathNerd on 14/01/2018 - 09:20
    +5

    If it's not 80k, it ain't worth having.

  • whooah1979 on 14/01/2018 - 10:06

    Hiace with five extra removable seats in the back.

    It's got forward high driving position for the best visibility. 6cbm cargo with a narrow body. can carry six metre long cargo on the roof using roof racks. all windows in the back can be tinted black for privacy. can be fitted with a mattress for camping. bull bar and rear step bar for pushing objects out of the way. high front and rear clearance for parking and driving over speed humbs. inexpensive to own. it can park in loading zones.

    It's boring to drive, but its functionality and reliability is unmatched.

  • CMH on 14/01/2018 - 10:18
    +1

    My trusty Toyota Camry has got to about 150km and 12 years.

    At 150km for 12 years, 10km a year I'd rather get a bicycle.

    • whooah1979 on 14/01/2018 - 10:21

      Picking up ones date up on a push bike would be priceless.

      • CMH on 14/01/2018 - 10:27
        +1

        Could work if you're a 14 year old.

        • nikey2k27 on 14/01/2018 - 15:01

          maybe he could pick up a14-year-old Girl?

  • HeWhoKnows on 14/01/2018 - 10:31

    I have always found the Mitsubishi Lancer and Mirage of all ages very reliable cars and great value. They do the basics well at any given time, simple and reliable, cheap parts and very easy to service either by yourself or by any mechanic.

    Not sure if you are looking at used or new but the 2006/7 CH Lancer with 2.4L engine is amongst the best value, best equipped, best looking used cars around - cheap to buy, high equipment levels, very solid build, high performance and very simple to service! So simple that anyone with very basic mechanic knowledge can do it. Insurance premiums too are low compared with other cars.

    The later, sporty looking Lancer CJ model (2007 onwards) has a timing chain instead of a timing belt so doesn't need a very expensive change every 100,000km.

    As for new cars they all appear to be very good with high equipemnt levels.
    The new Mitsubishi Mirage is amongst the cheapest to buy and run and with $250 capped servicing its hard to go wrong. By comparison the VW Golf has capped servicing for $550 to do exactly the same service - go figure.

    • spackbace on 14/01/2018 - 11:47

      The new Mitsubishi Mirage is amongst the cheapest to buy and run and with $250 capped servicing its hard to go wrong. By comparison the VW Golf has capped servicing for $550 to do exactly the same service - go figure.

      And Camry/Corolla are $140…

      • dasher86 on 15/01/2018 - 08:42

        servicing interval for mirage i believe is 15,000kms and 12 mths

        • spackbace on 15/01/2018 - 14:13

          Yep you're right @ $245/service. Just depends what mileage you're doing as those Toyotas are 6m/10,000km, Mits is 12m/15,000km

          Not that a Mirage compares to Corolla/Camry, it's in the Yaris league.

      • HeWhoKnows on 15/01/2018 - 14:10

        How things change so quickly

  • the Unforgiven on 14/01/2018 - 14:03
    +1

    I was run over by a Toyota once, oh what a feeling

  • gimli on 14/01/2018 - 17:35
    Suggested Kia cerato

    added cerato

  • gimli on 14/01/2018 - 17:36
    Suggested Mitsubishi Lancer

    Added lancer

  • gimli on 14/01/2018 - 17:36
    Suggested Mitsubishi Mirage

    added mirage

  • boomramada on 15/01/2018 - 08:17

    Yet a another useless poll, do you need a poll to decided best value boring car in Ozb? Seriously? Unless you work for Westpac!!

  • inherentchoice on 15/01/2018 - 18:42

    Ceratos cost much less than a camry and use less fuel, plus new ones have a 7 year warranty. A cerato hatch probably has more room for cargo etc than a Camry Sedan. So surely more boring and much better value than a Camry?

  • SnoozeAndLose on 15/01/2018 - 18:48
    +1

    Mazda 3

  • gimli on 15/01/2018 - 18:59
    Suggested Mazda 3

    Added Mazda 3

  • pegaxs on 15/01/2018 - 23:25
    Suggested Diesel Ford Focus

    Throwing out an idea because it is so bland and boring… The Ford Focus base model in diesel and auto. Owned one and it was truely the most boring car I have ever owned… The upside was that is was really good value. Got it pretty cheap, it just kept going. It was so frugal on fuel that it only got fueled up once every 6 weeks. It would do up to 900km on about 50lt of fuel… But omg, was it bland. Bland interior. Bland performance. Bland handling, no features and lacklustre dash and entertainment… So bland that I forgot I owned one until reading through this post again… People never noticed it, it was a car that just existed. It was the beige paint of the automotive world. Lots of them, cheap to buy and run, reasonably reliable, but boring as batshit.

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